Day-Long Celebration to be Held in Point Arena, 130 Miles North of San Francisco

The California Coastal National Monument turns 10 years old in January, 2010 and the community of Point Arena is joining the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to celebrate with an all-day, community-wide birthday party on Jan. 10.

"This will be the first in a full year of California celebrations to mark the 10th birthday of the California Coastal National Monument and the 10th anniversary of the larger National Landscape Conservation System, of which the monument is part," said Monument Manager Rick Hanks.

The public is invited to enjoy free indoor and outdoor events in and around Point Arena.

Located roughly 130 miles north of San Francisco along Highway 1, about a three-hour drive that takes you along some of the most scenic views of northern California's rocky coastline, Point Arena was the first city to be formally recognized as a California Coastal National Monument Gateway Community.

Events begin at 9 a.m. with a guided bird watching walk led by the Mendocino Coast Audubon Society. Participants should meet at a parking area outside of the Point Arena Lighthouse gate. Binoculars and spotting scopes are helpful.

The Point Arena Lighthouse will waive its admission charge from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for those with free admission tickets available from participating Point Arena merchants.

At 10 a.m. the focus shifts to the historic Arena Theater for the "Rocky Shore Picture Show." Events include a screening of Huell Howser's "California's Golden Parks" episode on the monument, a slide show by renowned photographer Craig Tooley, of The Sea Ranch, and recognition for California Coastal National Monument partners. Coffee and snacks will be provided.

Partygoers can choose from four guided outings, all starting at 1:30 p.m., one in downtown Point Arena and three at the BLM Stornetta Public Lands along Lighthouse Road.

The Point Arena Merchants Association will sponsor a one-hour stroll focusing on historic downtown Point Area. Walkers should meet town historian Steve Oliff at the pebble mosaic in Centennial Plaza.

The BLM will lead the Stornetta outings. Participants can choose from easy walks to learn about coastal prairie habitat and coastal geology. All walkers should meet at a parking area along Highway 1, immediately south of the junction with Lighthouse Road. The walks will be cross-country on uneven surfaces.

The birthday party moves to the Point Arena Lighthouse at 3 p.m. for an opening reception for a California Coastal National Monument exhibit by BLM photographer Bob Wick. Beverages and appetizers will be served.

The 1,100-mile long California Coastal National Monument includes more than 20,000 rocks, small islands, exposed reefs and pinnacles from mean high tide out 12 nautical miles, stretching along the coast from Oregon to Mexico. (It does not include major islands such as the eight Channel Islands, the Farallon Islands, or the islands in San Francisco Bay.)

It is part of the BLM National Landscape Conservation System, also celebrating its 10th anniversary. The NLCS conserves and protects treasured landscapes including national monuments, wilderness, wild and scenic rivers and other special areas across the west.

In addition to Point Arena, other local partners include Mendocino Coast Audubon, Point Arena Lighthouse Keepers, Coastwalk California, Redwood Coast Chamber of Commerce, Mendocino County Historical Society and the Moat Creek Managing Agency.

The core managing partners for the monument are the BLM, California Department of Fish and Game and California State Parks.

The monument was created in 2000 through a Presidential proclamation that recognized the importance of the rocks, islands, reefs and pinnacles in providing habitat where seabirds, seals and sea lions find protection from predators and humans. The proclamation also recognized the significance of the geology and archaeological resources.